The Beauty of Bannock

Recently I began reading a book entitled "Three Against The Wilderness".  It's described as a classic Canadian wilderness tale and was written by the man who lived it--Eric Collier.  I'm only about nine chapters in, but I can already tell you that it's worth the time spent!  There's an awful lot to be learned from what they endured and how they prevailed!  Eric and his family cut a path to what they deemed was a good spot in the Canadian backwoods and  proceeded to homestead.  Their experiences documented in this book were, as expected, trying to say the least, but they triumphed. 

One thing that is mentioned and that I've already tried is the making of Bannock.  Bannock is a form of baking powder bread that is both simple to make and hearty to eat.  There are many recipes out there on the web, but I went with the simplest I could find and we were very happy with the results. 

2 Cups of Flour
2 Tablespoons of Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon of Salt
Water as needed

That's it!  Mix your ingredients together to make a batter that is somewhere between the consistency of pancake batter and pizza dough.  Make one oblong flattened loaf or separate into two or more flattened loaves if you prefer.  Place on a non-stick or pre-greased frying pan.  Cook at medium-high for ten minutes on each side.  The cooking time may vary depending on how hot your stove runs and how many loaves that you break it into.  I made two and added another five minutes per side.  Chances are when it's golden brown on both sides it's done; however, you can always do the toothpick test to double check yourself. 

It's a heavy bread perfect for eating before a laborious, calorie-eating project and its consistency is such that you could break off a piece or two and just stick it in your pocket for later if you would like.  You can also add any number of ingredients to enhance the flavor, including fruit for your sugar fix or meat to make it a meal all by itself.  I added some ground turkey that I browned in a skillet just prior to mixing up the bannock dough.  Those loaves served with a woodstove baked potato made for a very simple yet both filling and satisfying dinner on a cold Fall evening.  Beautiful bannock indeed!   


You Have to Craft!

If you like to give gifts, one of the best ways to do it while Runnin' Lean is to make them yourself.  By making gifts you can often personalize them more than store-bought ones and it gives of yourself, too. Often times if you stop and think for a moment, you can make something using supplies you already have on hand or you may be able to pick additional materials at local thrift stores. For a little girl, I made my first teddy bear out of a sock and then crocheted a bright colored scarf for the bear too.  She named the little guy Cocoa Bear.  A loaf of homemade bread with some wild violet jam was the perfect birthday gift for another friend.  Homemade bread is a rare treat for most people these days!

Look around your house and see what you can craft today--maybe a birdhouse for a bird lover, a scarf for a friend or two, homemade cookies for those with a sweet tooth?  You'll be giving a gift that both comes from the heart and stays out of your wallet:)

LaRynda